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More social and affordable homes is only answer to housing crisis – Mitchell

Sinn Féin Dublin Bay North TD Denise Mitchell says the
solution to the housing crisis is very clear: the Government must build more
social and affordable housing.

Speaking following the launch of a pre-Budget submission by
the Simon Communities, Deputy Mitchell said:

“House prices are continuing to soar and are increasingly
out of reach for ordinary citizens. It is the same when it comes to rents, and
despite some positive moves in terms of rent pressure zones, it is far too easy
for landlords to use loopholes to evict tenants and jack-up their prices. The
Government need to recognise that we cannot rely on the market to fix this
crisis. Similarly, proposals by Fianna Fáil for tax breaks for developers show
that party is completely out of touch with the reality of the housing crisis.

“The only answer to the housing crisis is for the Government
to ensure that local authorities have the resources they need to build social
and affordable housing.

“Every day, I have people coming to my constituency office
who have been stuck on social housing waiting lists for years. Sky high rents
are continuing to drive people into homelessness. We are increasingly seeing
the problem of ‘hidden homelessness’ with families moving-in with relatives and
sleeping on couches in friend’s houses.

“The Simon Communities made the point today that
we are in danger of creating lost generations – second and third generations
who know nothing other than homelessness and housing insecurity. That simply
cannot be allowed to continue and it is long past time that this Government got
their finger out and took decisive action to prevent homelessness. That means
providing access to social and affordable housing, and providing support for
those in precarious housing situations to ensure they stay in their home and do
not face the prospect of homelessness.”